The five-story development across from Plaza Park received final City Council approval in January 2025, but construction has yet to begin.
A five-story mixed-use development with 80 residential units and ground-floor commercial space was approved for Downtown Ventura in January 2025. Known as the Park Plaza Project, the development is planned for 701 E. Santa Clara Street, at the northeast corner of Santa Clara and Fir Streets, directly across from Plaza Park.
Although the project has been approved for nearly two years, there has been no visible construction activity at the property as of October 2026.
The development has a lengthy history, with multiple design revisions, public hearings, and an appeal before ultimately receiving approval from Ventura City Council.
What Is Planned for 701 E. Santa Clara Street?
The approved Park Plaza Project consists of a five-story mixed-use building combining residential apartments, commercial space, and underground parking.
The project includes:
- 80 residential units, including nine income-restricted affordable units
- Six apartments reserved for low-income households
- Three apartments reserved for very low-income households
- Two market-rate live/work units
- 2,407 square feet of ground-floor commercial space
- A residential lobby and amenities
- Underground parking
The development would replace the existing one-story commercial building at the corner of Santa Clara and Fir Streets.
The location is particularly prominent, sitting directly across from Plaza Park and within walking distance of Downtown Ventura's restaurants, shops, and other amenities.
A Development Years in the Making
The Park Plaza Project has undergone several revisions since it was first presented to the City of Ventura.
In May 2018, the city's Design Review Committee reviewed an early conceptual proposal featuring 74 residential units and approximately 3,184 square feet of commercial space. That version included three- and four-story buildings with underground parking.
By January 2021, the applicant had returned with a revised design featuring 63 residential units and approximately 5,280 square feet of commercial space.
The 2021 proposal consisted of five interconnected buildings arranged around internal courtyards and pedestrian walkways. The design was intended to create a more varied streetscape rather than a single large building.
City planning staff raised questions about the project's architectural design, building massing, and the size of the fourth story. Much of the surrounding neighborhood consisted of one- and two-story buildings, making the proposed development noticeably larger than many nearby properties.
The plans continued to evolve in subsequent years, ultimately becoming the five-story, 80-unit development approved in 2025.
How California's State Density Bonus Law Played a Role
One of the more significant aspects of the Park Plaza Project is its use of California's State Density Bonus Law.
Under Government Code Section 65915, qualifying housing developments that provide affordable housing may be eligible for additional residential density, incentives or concessions, and waivers of certain local development standards.
The purpose of the law is to encourage the construction of additional housing, particularly affordable housing, by providing developers with flexibility beyond what local zoning regulations would otherwise permit.
For the Park Plaza Project, the inclusion of nine income-restricted affordable apartments helped qualify the development for benefits under the law.
The city approved a density bonus along with associated concessions and waivers. These approvals allowed the project to deviate from certain local development requirements.
State Density Bonus Law has become an increasingly important factor in housing development throughout California, particularly in cities like Ventura, where land is limited and new construction can be expensive.
Ventura City Council Upholds Approval in January 2025
Although the Park Plaza Project received approval from Ventura's Community Development Director, that decision was appealed, bringing the project before the Ventura City Council.
On January 14, 2025, the Council held a public hearing to consider the appeal.
The Council ultimately voted 5-2 to deny the appeal and uphold the project's approval, including its Coastal Development Permit, Design Review, Density Bonus, and associated concessions and waivers.
Councilmembers Duran, McReynolds, Schumacher, Deputy Mayor Halter, and Mayor Dr. Sánchez-Palacios voted in favor of upholding the approval. Councilmembers Mangone and Campos voted against.
The Council also directed the applicant to explore a three-foot reduction in the building's height, an adjustment the developer had offered to consider during the hearing.
Additionally, Public Works staff was directed to examine a potential road diet in the surrounding area.
The decision was formalized through Resolution 2025-04.
The Council also upheld the determination that the project qualified for a categorical exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under the Class 32 exemption for infill development projects.
Has Construction Started on the Park Plaza Project?
As of October 2026, there has been no visible construction activity at 701 E. Santa Clara Street.
While the development received its City Council approval in January 2025, that approval does not necessarily mean construction can begin immediately.
Projects of this size typically require additional steps, including preparation of construction drawings, building permit approvals, financing, and coordination with contractors before work can commence.
At this time, I do not have a confirmed construction start date or completion timeline for the Park Plaza Project.
What This Means for Downtown Ventura
The Park Plaza Project represents another example of the type of development being proposed for Downtown Ventura.
Rather than expanding outward, developments like this introduce additional housing within existing neighborhoods, often combining residential apartments with commercial uses at street level.
Its location across from Plaza Park makes it a particularly visible example of how Downtown Ventura could change as new housing projects are built.
The project also illustrates the growing influence of California's housing laws on local development decisions. State Density Bonus Law can provide developers with opportunities to build projects that might otherwise be restricted by local development standards.
Whether and when the Park Plaza Project moves into construction remains to be seen.
For now, the five-story, 80-unit development remains approved, with no confirmed construction timeline.
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I'm Grant Leichtfuss, a Ventura Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. I regularly cover housing developments, local real estate, and city decisions affecting Ventura and the surrounding communities.
Follow along for updates on new construction, housing policy, and the projects shaping Ventura's future.
